In honor of May 9, otherwise known as Victory Day in former Soviet countries, which celebrated the Soviet victory over Nazi Germany in 1945, Russian Senior Shliach and Chief Rabbi Berel Lazar made a personal visit to Velvel Mulevitch, an aging Jewish war veteran who fought alongside his father during the German siege of Leningrad (S. Petersburg). Rabbi Lazar spoke to Velvel about his war experiences, erected a mezuzah on his doorpost, as well as put on Tefillin with him • Photos

Russian Chief Rabbi Berel Lazar has criticized remarks by his country’s foreign minister, who suggested that the worst antisemites were Jewish and that Adolf Hitler had Jewish ancestry • Full Story

“As rabbis and community leaders, as well as emissaries of the Rebbe, we always stressed that the political aspect of what’s going on has nothing to do with us. We don’t understand it properly with all its nuances, and getting into the political side of things would simply constitute a waste of time and energy that would be better spent on helping Jews” • Full Story

Hundreds of children from Moscow’s various Jewish educational institutions gathered in Moscow’s Marina Roscha Synagogue today for a special rally of Torah, Tefilah, and Tzedaka to combat the frightening situation in the world at the moment. The rally was led by Russia’s Senior Shliach and Chief Rabbi Berel Lazar • Photos

The Chief Rabbi of Russia on Thursday called on local Jews to pray for peace, after fighting broke out on the Russian-Ukrainian border. Rabbi Berel Lazar urged Russian Jews to pray this coming Sabbath on behalf of the region’s citizens and the security of the Jewish community • Full Story

When Rabbi Berl Lazar arrived to Moscow for the first time 35 years ago, today’s magnificent  Marina Roscha Shul, a multiple floor massive community center, was but a distant dream. Marina Roscha of 5747 was but a small dilapidated shack, symbolizing the city’s need for a Jewish renaissance. The Moscow community  hosts a yearly dinner to honor its supporters, but this year’s dinner was combined with another special occasion, the sheva brachos of the Chief Rabbi’s daughter and son in law. Images captured by photographer Levi Nazimov • Full Story, Photos